thunder bolt was let go because dusty was the booker & had had heat with thunder bolt back from there florida days because dusty stole his gimmick so he had to go tommy rich was only over in georgia because he was jim barnett's boy toy that's why he was nwa champ for a week because barnett was on the nwa board so he made a deal with rich to became nwa champ he as a favor for the fag barnett he had no respect with all the wrestlers because they knew the truth about him & barnett
Tbolt was a bitter because in the years before national tv blacks were a major source of money for the white promoters but was very poorly paid compared to white wrestlers.
Tbolt was a major draw all over the country as a wrestler because he drew huge black crowds in the south, northeast and Detroit areas with large black populations. He had every reason to be bitter has he was constantly promised big money but was constantly screwed over in the days of Jim Crow
I used to think Schiavone was ok when I was watching this on TBS back then; but man...he is, he is not too good. That perpetual game show voice does nothing to sell the action because he is perpetually cranked up. Not like Gordon whose voice would be moderated and then jump when the sh* hit the fan.
Everyone talks about Vince McMahon taking over the territories, but Crockett was just as bad. Georgia was step one. He bought the remainder of the Georgia territory and as soon as he did he began burying a lot of the Georgia talents including Rich and Patterson.
Heh, seeing a lot of different things all out of order. Just got done watching a heel Tommy Rich cheating like crazy against Valiant in the AWA in 1988, before that I saw a heel Valiant assaulting Tommy's mom in Memphis, and now I come to see them tagging together. I love it.
Gordon Solie was indeed a tough act to follow but I always liked Tony Schivone, it just took awhile to get used to him after Solie. Today I consider Tony to be the voice of the NWA in the '80s.
I really hope Thunderbolt was better in his prime cuz he sucks in all of these videos. He can't wrestle, he can't speak, and it seems his best move is wiggiling out of a headlock due to his greasy hair. Well, that and complaining about not getting his just due. Hey Bolt, if that's your best, I can see why you didn't get a push.
I never cared for Thunderbolt Patterson either, he just never impressed me. I have some video of him from the late '60s in the Sheik's Detroit promotion as a heel & he sucked their too.
Nick Patrick looked the same in 1985 as he does now, but I miss seeing him as a WWE referee though. I wish Nick would come back to the WWE as a full time referee for either Raw or Smackdown, or even ECW.
Thanks for putting this on the internet. Being from South Carolina, I grew up watching Mid Atlantic, then JCP, then WCW. I read up on World Class, Georgia, etc, but I never got to see Georgia State Wrestling. It is obvious that many of Georgia, UWF, and Mid Atlantic's stars became part of Jim Crockett, and many of its stars ended up in WCW.
Everybody cracks on Tony Schaivonne but you know what he was a very good announcer. I enjoyed watching (and listening) Tony. He should have came to WWE and worked Smackdown. That would have been neat.
Interesting post. Tommy Rich & Thunderbolt Patterson were let go by JCP not long after this. Also, it was interesting to see Rich & Jimmy Valiant together. 4 years earlier, they had a vicious feud in Memphis when Valiant, along with Jimmy Hart & Tojo Yammamoto attacked Rich's mother. Joel Deaton would become Thunderfoot and later got a big push on the independent circuit as Cutthroat. Valiant got buried after StarrCade 86 and eventually left JCP & returned to Memphis.
Tommy quit JCP when Crocket gathered all the Georgia boys together and said some will be hired and some will be fired. He had a job with JCP but did not like this, so he left.
That's when Crockett bought out the timeslots from Ole Anderson,Bill Watts, and Vince McMahon to get exclusive rights to do wrestling on TBS. Schiavone was one of Crockett's announcers along with Bob Caudle and David Crockett; so Solie, who worked for Anderson, was out.
Deaton is the BEST
SuperFerndale 1 month ago
thunder bolt was let go because dusty was the booker & had had heat with thunder bolt back from there florida days because dusty stole his gimmick so he had to go tommy rich was only over in georgia because he was jim barnett's boy toy that's why he was nwa champ for a week because barnett was on the nwa board so he made a deal with rich to became nwa champ he as a favor for the fag barnett he had no respect with all the wrestlers because they knew the truth about him & barnett
GoldV316 6 months ago
@GoldV316
wow!!! scandal!!
T74G 3 months ago
How many little Jimmys are in the crowed
pattersongrove 9 months ago
The ring is so small compared to what you see know.Man I miss the good old days of wrestling.
MrRegg69 1 year ago
Tbolt was a bitter because in the years before national tv blacks were a major source of money for the white promoters but was very poorly paid compared to white wrestlers.
Tbolt was a major draw all over the country as a wrestler because he drew huge black crowds in the south, northeast and Detroit areas with large black populations. He had every reason to be bitter has he was constantly promised big money but was constantly screwed over in the days of Jim Crow
hawkmebbs 1 year ago
I used to think Schiavone was ok when I was watching this on TBS back then; but man...he is, he is not too good. That perpetual game show voice does nothing to sell the action because he is perpetually cranked up. Not like Gordon whose voice would be moderated and then jump when the sh* hit the fan.
pdcmb2 1 year ago
Everyone talks about Vince McMahon taking over the territories, but Crockett was just as bad. Georgia was step one. He bought the remainder of the Georgia territory and as soon as he did he began burying a lot of the Georgia talents including Rich and Patterson.
Sargebri 2 years ago
Heh, seeing a lot of different things all out of order. Just got done watching a heel Tommy Rich cheating like crazy against Valiant in the AWA in 1988, before that I saw a heel Valiant assaulting Tommy's mom in Memphis, and now I come to see them tagging together. I love it.
nwajoe 2 years ago
Gordon Solie was indeed a tough act to follow but I always liked Tony Schivone, it just took awhile to get used to him after Solie. Today I consider Tony to be the voice of the NWA in the '80s.
Lfdjake91 2 years ago
I really hope Thunderbolt was better in his prime cuz he sucks in all of these videos. He can't wrestle, he can't speak, and it seems his best move is wiggiling out of a headlock due to his greasy hair. Well, that and complaining about not getting his just due. Hey Bolt, if that's your best, I can see why you didn't get a push.
wachopper 2 years ago 2
This is as good as it got with Thunderbolt. I never understood why he was ever considered a main eventer.
Rebel6911 2 years ago
Watch 70's footage of TBolt in GA or FLA. He was the man.
NAYellowjackets 2 years ago
I never cared for Thunderbolt Patterson either, he just never impressed me. I have some video of him from the late '60s in the Sheik's Detroit promotion as a heel & he sucked their too.
Lfdjake91 2 years ago
Yes DoctorWho, it fact Arn Anderson's interview about the "Four horseman of the Apocalypse" is on youtube, If I find it, I'll send it to you
ashleybound 3 years ago
Nick Patrick looked the same in 1985 as he does now, but I miss seeing him as a WWE referee though. I wish Nick would come back to the WWE as a full time referee for either Raw or Smackdown, or even ECW.
Kjr0se 3 years ago
does anyone know if the formation of the 4 horsemen is on youtube. would love to see it.
DoctorWHO300 3 years ago
Thanks for putting this on the internet. Being from South Carolina, I grew up watching Mid Atlantic, then JCP, then WCW. I read up on World Class, Georgia, etc, but I never got to see Georgia State Wrestling. It is obvious that many of Georgia, UWF, and Mid Atlantic's stars became part of Jim Crockett, and many of its stars ended up in WCW.
Amr3561 3 years ago
Everybody cracks on Tony Schaivonne but you know what he was a very good announcer. I enjoyed watching (and listening) Tony. He should have came to WWE and worked Smackdown. That would have been neat.
raiders75 3 years ago
Interesting post. Tommy Rich & Thunderbolt Patterson were let go by JCP not long after this. Also, it was interesting to see Rich & Jimmy Valiant together. 4 years earlier, they had a vicious feud in Memphis when Valiant, along with Jimmy Hart & Tojo Yammamoto attacked Rich's mother. Joel Deaton would become Thunderfoot and later got a big push on the independent circuit as Cutthroat. Valiant got buried after StarrCade 86 and eventually left JCP & returned to Memphis.
mkl62 3 years ago
Tommy quit JCP when Crocket gathered all the Georgia boys together and said some will be hired and some will be fired. He had a job with JCP but did not like this, so he left.
NAYellowjackets 2 years ago
Just watching the guy lace up his boots at the start is enough to put me over the edge - WOOF!
flexpin123 3 years ago
It's good footage but I will never understand why Tony Shavianne was given Gordon's time slot.
larrystarstruck 3 years ago
Tony was good back then.
However, Gordon was a hard act to follow.
Thanks Tim.
junta028 3 years ago
That's when Crockett bought out the timeslots from Ole Anderson,Bill Watts, and Vince McMahon to get exclusive rights to do wrestling on TBS. Schiavone was one of Crockett's announcers along with Bob Caudle and David Crockett; so Solie, who worked for Anderson, was out.
actionsub 3 years ago